Rotary engine.



PATENTBD APR. 23, 1907. 0. MAQARTHUR & F. SMITH.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULYS. 1906.

2 8HEBTS-SEEET 1.

Wau h fin/M4 M PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

s s H W Z di f/ i .trated in Fig. 5.

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CHRISTOPHER MAoARTI-IUR AND FRANK SMITH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO EDWARD OHURTON POWELL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed July 3, 1906. Serial No. 324,680.

To (.tZZ whom it pea/y concern:

Be it known that we, CHRISTOPHER MAG-- ARTHUR and FRANK SMITH, subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary engines and has for its object the construction of such an engine in a compact and simple form having a minimum of working parts and capable of being worked expansibly and developing a high power at comparatively low speed for such engines per unit of weight of engine and at the same time is easy in adaptation as areversible engine.

In order that the invention may be the better understood it will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon.

Like letters refer to like parts in the various figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional transverse vertical elevation of an engine of non-reversing type, made in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the engine at the point when the steam is about to be admitted to the working chamber. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the valve arrangement adapted for reversing. Fig. 5 is a similar detail view of the valve arrangement as shown in Fig. 4 adapted for variable expansion of the steam in both directions of movement. Fig. 6 is a part sectional view of the control arrangements in the trunnion as illus- Fig. 7 is a front View of the same showing the coaction of the lovers.

To carry the invention into effect the stationary or casing portion of the engine is con structed of two cylindrical chambers a and b, the former of which constitutes the working chamber while the latter contains a rotary abutment 0 having the function of a valve also. The working chamber or cylinder a has two lateral extensions (Z projecting in wardly toward one another between which is arranged a disc (2 which carries at its periphery one "or more vanes f, in the present in* stance only one vane being provided. The disc 6 is fixedly attached to ashaft 9 supported in bearings h 7). attached. to or formed integral with the extensions (Z or the casing of the engine. The vanesf extend laterally each side of the disc and contact at their sides with the walls of the cylinder and the periphery of the extensions (Z, in this way the reaction due to the pressure on the disc is reduced on the bearings. The chamber 1) containing the abutment or valve 0 intersects with the working chamber or cylinder a and the valve or abut ment 0 is of the same diameter as the disc 6 the two being driven in opposite directions by equal spur wheels 7' through the shafts g and p. A recess ]t' is provided in the abutment 0 through which the vane f sweeps when passing through the space enclosed by the intersecting paths of the outside of the vane and the periphery of the abutment c. The abutment or valve 0 is supported on a hollow trunnion Z which forms the passage for the supply of steam, through the pipe m. This trunnion Z has a long slot or port a arranged in it, while the center portion of the abutment or valve 0 has a corresponding port 0 in its supporting boss or hub leading into the recess Z'. A recess (1 is provided on the side of the chamber 1) to allow of the passage of the steam from the recess is into the working chamber (4 when the valve 0 moving round has carried the recess it up into the chamber 1). In order to take the reaction of the abutment or valve 0 we prefer to fit an adjustable rubbing strip 1' to the upper portion of the casing which can be adjusted as to position as it wears so as to keep the abutment or valve 0 in proper juxtaposition to the disc 6 and lateral extensions (Z. An exhaust port 8 is arranged in the side of the chamber I).

hen the engine is in the position as shown in Fig. 3, the vane f is just entering the annular space in the chamber a and the port 0 in the abutment or valve 0 is on the point of opening for the admission of steam from the pipe in through the trunnion l and port 7t so that the admission takes place through the port 0 in the abutment or valve (3 directly on to the vanef. As the vane travels round the cylinder the port 0 passes the port a cuts oil the steam and allows the steam to expand until the vancf passes the other point of intersection of the chambers (L and I) when the exhaust steam is discharged through the exhaust passage By making the trunnion Z rotatable about its axis as shown in Fig. l the port a can be changed to the opposite side of the vertical line and the engine thus reversed in its direction of movement. In this case it will be necessary to have a separate exhaust passage 8 on the other side of the casing I; and valves if placed on each exhaust passage in order to cut oil communication with the exhaust pipe at either one side or the other according to the direction of rotation of the engine. The valves t can be connected together by any suitable gearing n so that they can be operated simultaneously. be connected to or operated by the lever 12 for varying the position of the port a in the trunnion Z so that the necessary operation of the trunnion Z and exhaust valves 8 s are effected by the motion of the lever 1) when the engine is to be reversed; for example in F 4 stops c are provided on the connecting rod 8 which co-act with the lever i) when the latter is moved from side to side to reverse the engine and at the same time reverse the position of the exhaust valves accordingly.

In order to vary the rate of expansion a modified arrangement of the trunmon is provided as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. In this case the trunnion l is made stationary and is provided in its interior with a rotating sleeve 10 having two ports w and a projecting portion 'y adjoining each. port on the circumference of the sleeve; the projections 1/ move in the annular space between the internal and. external peripheries of the trunnion I so as to form an adjustable cut off device in regard to the port 0 in order to vary the cut off according to the position of the cut off edge of the projection q relative to the port 0 in the abutment 0. Within the sleeve w we pro vide a hollow plug .2 having ports .2 2 which is adjusted in its position relative to the trunnion Z so that steam is delivered either to one or other side of the abutment according to the desired direction of motion of the engine.

By reference to Fig. Git will be observed that the hollow plug 2 is connected to the lever '2) while the sleeve w is extended around the spindle of the lever c to the exterior of the engine and is adjusted in position by means of a quadrant U2 on the sleeve to having stops 20 and an arm it; carried by the lever 0. A fixed scaled quadrant t is provided which indicates by the position of the index fingers t the position of the sleeve in and the point of cut off corresponding thereto. When the reversing lever c is moved from side to side it carries the sleeve to with it while the said sleeve can be adjusted independently in the reverse direction by means of the handle i When the engine is made to reverse a re- .he gearing a may cess or clearance space (1 is provided on both sides of the abutment chamber 1).

If necessary two or more vanes f can be provided on the disc e and two or more abutments and valves 0 and sets of exhaust ports 8 can be arranged. on the casing so that not only can the masses about the axis of the shaft 9 be balanced but the turm'ng moments also in order to reduce the reaction on the hearings to the smallest possible amount.

Having now described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A rotary engine having two cylindrical chambers intersecting one another, one being the working chamber and the other the abutment chamber, a cylindrical extension on each side wall of the working chamber pro jecting inwards, a cylindrical support disposed between the said cylindrical extensions and rigidly connected with the driving shaft, a vane or vanes carried upon said cylindrical support adapted to bear against and slide relatively to the walls of the working chamber on three sides and the periphery of the said cylindrical extensions on the fourth side, a cyiindrical abutment of the same diameter as the vane support having a recess or recesses to allow the vane or vanes to pass the said abutment, a port in the cylindrical abutment opening into the recess, a hollow trunnion for carrying the cylindrical abut ment, means for the admission of steam through the hollow trunnion to the working chamber and for the exhaust of the same therefrom, substantially as described.

2. A rotary engine having two cylindrical chambers intersecting one another, one being the working chamber and the other the abutment vchamber, a cylindrical extension on each side wall of the working chamber projecting inwards, a cylindrical support carrying a vane disposed between the cylindrical extensions within the working chamber, a cylindrical abutment of the same diameter as the vane support having a recess to allow the vane to pass the said abutment said cylindrical abutment having a port therein opening into the recess, a ported trunnion for carrying the abutment, an internal sleeve provided with ports carried. by said trunnion and a cutting oil device projecting into and coacting with the port in the cylindrical abutment so as to vary the point of cut off of the steam.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER MAcARTHUR. FRANK SMITH. Witnesses:

CHARLES CARTER, MAY F. DRINKWATER. 

